More in Inventories

Oct. 14, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Midsize Sedan Segment Race Heating Up

J Mays, Ford group vice president-design, says the all-new Fusion that hit the market last year has panicked competitors into quickening their midsize-sedan model cadence....More
Oct. 4, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

September U.S. Inventory Set to Meet Fourth-Quarter Demand 3

Ford and Chrysler are the only automakers with more large pickups in inventory than a year ago, which is significant because large pickups are undergoing the fastest growth right now among all major segments....More
Oct. 3, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Kia Not Hitting the Panic Button on Sales

The Korean automaker's U.S. sales rose 250% in the past four years but this year has been a struggle, with six of nine months' results in the red....More
Oct. 1, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Ford September Sales Up 15.2%; Government Shutdown Causes Concern

Ford’s senior economist says pent-up vehicle demand should outweigh any negative impact on the market from waning consumer confidence due to the government shutdown....More
Sep. 27, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Automakers Wary of New Phase of Thai Eco-Car Program

Car companies are concerned the second phase of tax incentives is launching too soon and could saturate the local market as new players sign on....More
Sep. 6, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

August U.S. LV Inventory Sees Gain on Year-Ago 1

Light-vehicle supply ended the month at 2.917 million units, down 1.0% from July and well within the normal seasonal trend....More
Sep. 3, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Ailing Indian Auto Makers Shed 5,000 Temporary Jobs

Under both Indian law and their contract terms, temporary workers can be dismissed on the spot without notice. They receive no unemployment compensation....More
Aug. 13, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Hyundai, Kia Workers Authorize Strikes as Talks Stall

In addition to the breakdown of talks, a management document outlining a scheme for “demolition” of the Hyundai union has surfaced, infuriating members who plan a major demonstration at the auto maker’s headquarters....More
Aug. 2, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

U.S. July Light-Vehicle Inventory Up 11% From Year-Ago

If sales continue at the June/July pace in August, inventory could remain flat or even decline. That could dampen September’s sales somewhat as popular vehicles temporarily will be in short supply....More
Jul. 18, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Hyundai Digs In With Refreshed Equus 2

The auto maker says demand for its first premium luxury flagship has outstripped supply. A refreshed ’14 model is on sale now with a free valet maintenance service that has been skinned back from five years to three....More
Jul. 12, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Renault Samsung Workers OK Pay Freeze, Unpaid Holidays

The unexpected compromise by the workers’ union came when both sides publicly acknowledged this week that the auto maker was in very difficult straits and both sides were working for its survival....More
Jul. 3, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

U.S. Light-Vehicle Inventory Solid for Now After Sales Surge

Inventory of domestically made vehicles is somewhat low, leading to a reduction in normally scheduled summer vacation shutdowns at several plants operated by Chrysler, Ford and GM....More
Jun. 27, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Indian Auto Makers Look for Way Out of Doldrums

Market reports indicate the slump may worsen in June, despite auto makers’ generous incentives, deep discounts and fresh launches of low-priced new-generation products....More
Jun. 7, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

May U.S. Light-Vehicle Inventory Tops Pre-Recession High

Ford can’t keep up with Explorer demand, even with its Chicago plant working on three shifts and overtime. Sales of the SUV easily will top 200,000 this year for the first time since 2005....More
May 30, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Acura Sets Sights on Breaking MDX Record; Delays Launch to July

The ’14 MDX will mark the first time Acura has competed in the large 2WD CUV segment, and a top American Honda executive expects to see an incremental gain from buyers who don’t require AWD....More
May 20, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

GM Pickup Inventories, Sell-Down Going Smoothly, Reuss Says

The auto maker needs stocks to remain above the industry average of roughly 80 days, because it has been idling assembly plants to changeover tooling for the ’14 models trickling in to dealers now....More
May 1, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

GM’s April U.S. Sales Gain 6.9%, Eyes Raising Outlook

Positive broad economic indicators underpin GM’s possible change to its forecast of 15.0 million to 15.5 million industry sales this year. However, the fiscal crisis in Washington remains a wild card....More
May 1, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Lincoln MKZ Sees Strong April; Ford Sales Up 13%

Demand was particularly strong for the MKZ hybrid, which saw an 11-day turnover compared with 22 days for the standard model. Ford plans to increase the mix to 30% for the ’14 model, which begins production this summer....More
Apr. 24, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

North America Drives Ford to Q1 Profit

The auto maker’s Q1 pre-tax profit was down $147 million compared with prior-year due to losses in South America, but still represented Ford’s 15th consecutive profitable quarter....More
Apr. 2, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Ford March Sales Up 9%; Capacity Tight on Fusion

Fusion inventory levels will remain tight until the sedan is added to the mix at the Flat Rock, MI, plant this fall, the auto maker says....More
Apr. 2, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Chrysler Sales Climb 9.0% From Year-Ago for Best Month Since 2007

The high-volume Dodge Caravan and Chrysler 300 both have seen consecutive monthly losses, while deliveries of midsize and compact sedans remain positive....More
Mar. 22, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

March U.S. New-Vehicle Sales to Continue at Robust Rate

New WardsAuto forecast calls for March sales to maintain recent 15.3 million SAAR....More
Feb. 8, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Hyundai Has U.S. Sales Problems to Envy, Exec Says

With its allotment of vehicles for U.S. dealers capped at 734,000 units for a second straight year, industrywide growth means the auto maker won’t show a percentage sales gain and its market share will drop, sales chief Bob Pradzinski says....More
Feb. 5, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

New Zealand January Sales Reflect Thai Flood Recovery

New-car and commercial-vehicle deliveries jumped following prior-year shortages caused by massive floods in Thailand in late 2011....More
Jan. 31, 2013

Article

WardsAuto

Toyota Thailand Prepares to Deal With Market Slowdown

The auto maker expects to outperform the market and push its share back up to its usual 40% range in 2013....More